The Cosby Show Is Finally Leaving Hulu, But Not for the Reason You Might Think

The Cosby Show
Photo: NBC/NBC via Getty Images

Reruns of The Cosby Show haven’t been seen on TV since July 2015, but anyone willing to put aside Bill Cosby’s history of sexual abuse could still stream the show on demand if they had a subscription to Hulu. Spoiler alert: That soon won’t be true. Vulture has confirmed Cosby’s eponymous 1980s family sitcom will disappear from Hulu on November 7, apparently leaving the show without a regular linear or subscription-based video-on-demand home. The Cosby Show isn’t leaving because of any moral judgement on the part of Hulu, however. An insider at the service confirms Hulu’s multiyear licensing agreement with Cosby producer Carsey Werner Television, first struck back in 2011, is expiring this month and — like so many similar deals between studios and networks — simply wasn’t renewed. The decision not to continue the licensing agreement means Carsey Werner titles such as 3rd Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life, Whoopi, and The Tracy Morgan Show are also going away next week, while A Different World and Grace Under Fire actually exited without much fanfare in September. Past seasons are still available on DVD, or for purchase for $1.99 per episode on Amazon. There’s also a chance the series could yet return to a streaming platform should Carsey Werner license its TV library to another streaming platform. We’ve reached out to the company to see if any such plans are in the works and will update this post if we hear back.

The Cosby Show Is Finally Leaving Hulu